A History Lesson for the Platinum Jubilee

I really liked this one. As an American with only pop-culture level knowledge of the British Royal family, I found the book incredibly informational and easily digestible.

The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor - the Truth and the Turmoil is described as a follow-up to Tina Brown earlier work The Diana Chronicles but, Brown includes much more than just the last 25 years of history. In order to explain the most recent trials to plague the House of Windsor, she reviews the history that led them to their current place. She explains the strategies and world views that shaped both those who were born into the royal family and those who married into it. I found all of it incredibly informative and entertaining.

I commend Brown on managing to review all of the stories with an unbiased lens. There are plenty of times when she isn't afraid to throw the spotlight on each individual's not-so-pretty moments. This epic tale is full of drama and I really enjoyed the juicy gossip. When I started I thought the reaction to Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview would be what I enjoyed most, but I was surprised to find how interesting it was contrasting Camilla and Diana and then bringing those comparisons back to Kate and Meghan later on.

If like me, you find the idea of a modern aristocracy intriguing then I'd suggest you invest the time to read this. However, if that's not your thing then 18 hours of an audiobook is a lot. Overall, I found it worth the investment. I kept enjoying coming back for more of the history and the drama. Grab some popcorn, settle in and enjoy!